MALVERN, PA -- USA Technologies is gearing up to launch a new prepaid and loyalty program and interactive media service for vending operators. The new services will be offered as separately priced, add-on modules to the company's core ePort Connect cashless payment and telemetry service.

USAT said it will solicit feedback over the next few weeks from operators testing the new services, to help finalize features and pricing.

The prepaid and loyalty program is designed to encourage repeat vending customers and increased participation. Operators taking part in the program will provide customers with reloadable prepaid cards and loyalty accounts that can be used to offer incentives for additional purchases and cash-back bonuses for regular patrons. Consumers will be able to manage their rewards and add funds to their accounts online or by using a mobile application; they will also receive alerts about special promotions by email or on Facebook.

The company's interactive service will allow operators to equip their machines with wireless networked digital signage that runs streaming dynamic content, including nutritional information, advertisements and videos, at the point of sale. USAT said the service will deliver the same consumer engagement experience seen on the newer interactive vending machines, but as a retrofit that can easily be mounted onto or near the machine and managed and updated remotely.

USA Technologies vice-president of marketing Maeve Duska emphasized that ePort Connect is designed to allow operators flexibility in selecting the hardware and services that best suit their business needs and for USAT to continue to expand its offerings to them. "Whether they require cashless payments, telemetry or prepaid and loyalty and interactive media, our customers could add on to their existing service plan as their business objectives change and not be concerned with managing several different service providers," she said.

The Malvern, PA, company recently announced an upgrade of its ePort Connect service technology platform designed, in part, to make it possible to handle the increased data flow and scalability required to support a prepaid and loyalty program and interactive media. The upgrade also improves the system's interoperability with third-party devices, speeds authentication times and enhances the ePort Connect's USALive customer reporting system. | SEE STORY